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SAMUEL L. KNISELL, OF AHDEN, NEV JERSEY..

COMBINATION-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,437', dated March23, 1897'. Application filed September l2, 1896. Serial No. 605,569. (Nomodel.)

To cl/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. KNISELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in CombinationLadders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in combinationfolding ladders, and has for its object to provide a ladder of thisdescription, which may be utilized as an ordinary step-ladder, as aplatform-ladder, or as a straightway ladder, by which arrangement it maybe put to a variety of uses and yet when not in use may be stored in asmall space.

The three forms which I preferably contemplate adapting my ladder towill be hereinafter described in detail, and clearly set forth in theclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specication.

Figure l is a perspective of my improved ladder when adjusted for use asa step-ladder, and Fig. 2 a similar View when my improvement is adjustedfor use as a platform-ladder.

In carrying out the embodiment of my improvement I have here shown theladder made in three sections, designated by A, B, and C, the former ofwhich is in the general shape of a stepladder, the steps D thereof beingflat and set at the proper angle for ease of ascension. To this sectionis pivoted at E the section B, and in practice I prefer to utilize oneof the rounds of the middle section for the pivoting of these sectionsby the extension of said round.

The rounds of the middle section B are similar to the rounds of anordinary reachladder, and this section is so pivoted to the section A asto permit it to come into parallelism with the latter, and may be thereheld by contact upon one side with the top step of the section A and theproper adjustment of the brace-rods F. The section C, which isconstructed similar to the section B and provided with the rounds G, ispivoted at II to the section B, so that it may also be swung parallelwith the latter and held in this position by the notched yends I comingin contact with one of the rounds J of the section B and the properadjustment of the stay-rods K.

When the several sections of the ladder have been thus adjusted, it maybe seen that it will serve the ,purpose of an ordinary extensiolrladder,by means of which access may be had to considerable heights with as muchsafety as though a single-section ladder were used. l

When my improvement is to be utilized as a platform-ladder, the two endsections A and C are adjusted at something more than right angles to thecentral sectionB and there held by the stay-rods F and K, so that thecentral sections will serve as a platform upon which any suitableboarding may be laid for convenience to step on. When thus utilized, myimprovement will be found very advantageous for papering, painting, orthe like, and will obviate the necessity of erecting tem poraryscaifoldings for these purposes.

By the inturning of the section C to the position shown in Fig. l itwill be seen that a Vperfect step-ladder is provided which may be usedfor all purposes for which such a ladder is adapted, andthe sections Aand B are there held at the desired angles to each other by thebrace-rods F, and when it becomes desirable to store the ladder this isaccomplished in a small space by the folding of the sections B and Cagainst the section A in the usual manner of closing a step-ladder. Inorder to increase the stability of the ladder when used as aplatform-ladder or an extensionladder, the rods L may be arranged toslide outward from the foot of the section A at such an angle as to comein Contact with the surfaces upon. which said foot rests, thusincreasing the bearing of this section to such an extent as to precludethe possibility of the ladder being tipped when in use. A brace M may beutilized for adding rigidity to the section A, and also serves forholding and guiding the rods L.

A similar arrangement P may be provided in connection with the outer endof the section C, thus further increasing the bearing of the ladder whenused as a platform.

I have here shown the notches N in the ends of the rails of the sectionC, so that when desired one or more sections may be used in connectionwith the ladder, thus permitting its triple extension by the adapting ofsaid notches and corresponding notches in the added sections over therounds thereof.

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Should it be found desirable to lighten my improvement when used as astep-ladder only, the section C may be removed therefrom by disjoiningat the pivot-point H, and yet this section maybe again quickly addedwhen occasion requires.

In practice my improvement is especially advantageous for household useor upon farms, as it may be quickly converted from one form to another,thereby rendering it unnecessary to provide three forms of ladders forthe uses for which my improvement is intended, and in manufacturing thecost of my improvement is butlittle in excess of the ordinary form ofstep-ladders.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis 1. A ladder consisting of three sections, the two end sections beingpivoted to an intcrmediate section, stay-rods pivoted on the side railsot the end sections adapted to engage pins on the intermediate section,upwardlycurved braces extending across the outer ends of the side railsof the end sections, braces extending between the first-named braces andthe lowermost rounds, rods slidably secured in openings at the lowerends of the lastnamed braces and the side rails, said rods being adaptedto slide laterally to come in contact with the ground, as and for thepurpose described.

2. In a ladder, an upwardly-curved brace secured across the ends of theside rails, a brace extending from the center of the iirstnamed brace tothe loWermcst round, rods slidably secured in openin gs at the lower endof the second brace and the side rails, said rods being adapted to slidelaterally to come in contact with the ground, as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAllIUEL L. KNISELL.

Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, SAMUEL Il. TAYLOR.

